The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-20
A MASTERLY ARGUMENT
COL. HAIRY M. HILL sURPAsSEs
HIMSELF IN THE CoFFMAN CASE.
Chnching Every Strong Point Against
the Prisoner and Bringing 1t Homo
to the Jury-Two Days Wasted by
the Court on Account of Custom.


o'clock pm. on Saturdays until the follow
ing Monday morning. Under circum-
stances like the present, the wisdom OF this
ma be doubted. A jury of business men,
who have given patient and interested at
tention to the entire proceedings, might
have performed their last duty in the
premises by Monday morning and been
released. Asst ia, the concluding portion
Of the final speech is yet to be made, the
charge delivered, and thent he jury's de-
liberations and return. II is not at all
likely now that verdict will be reached
before Tuesday afternoon, il thcn--two
days wasted.
Gen. Luke l.. Wright began Yesterdays
proceedings with his argument, speaking
very little over M hour. lie paid particu-
lar attention to the evidence introduced,
in which line he brought all the powers Of
his clear and forcible analytical mind into
play. Coiman's private character and
popularity; tastman's insolence and self
assertvc character, and Thorn's alleged
perjury were all strongly contrlsted, and
the gifted and learned gentleman con-
cluded with stirring appeal 10 the jury,
laying stress upon The point that verdict
0fguilty would be q judicial murder.
lie was followed by acting Attorney
General Harry NJ. Hill, who made one of
tho most brilliant Arguments OF his long
career. Eloquence, logic and close reason.
ing aboundcd throughout, and cOmpli-
ments were lavishly bestowed by every
ewho heard him capable OF appreciation.
A running daily newspaper report can give
no clear idea Oi its zeal strength, but the
Scimitar : condensation is subjoincd:
''ln time OF profound peace, in land
OF Boosted civilization, a foul, premedi-
tated, cold blooded, cruel and cowardly
murder has been pcrpetratel. In all the
annals OF Shelby county, no spot Of iniamy
can be found 10 exceed this" The speak
er's manner was imbued with great feel
ing, and every word seemed 10 come
straight from the heart. file alluded 10 his
embarrassment in representing the State
in such case, arrayed, as he was, against
counsel Of eminent ability, but he added.
81 found consolation in the fact that the
case will be decided by fearless Judge
and an honest jury. The statement Of the
fActs OF this ease, az admitted by the
defense, IL sufficient TO carry the con-
viction 10 your minds that w. u.
CoiIinan's hands are rceklng with blood.
Outside OF the question OF Iholn's tcsii.
mony, and leaving him out Of the case,
there is enough in the circumstances to fix
the guilt upon the prisoner. Circum.
stances don't lie, witnesses sometimes do.
As u distinct proposition ! would not he
afraid 10 impress upon the jury the guilt
oil the defendant upon the circumstances
OF the case, circumstances that ilumine
and make II clear. Suppose on Of you
gcnhcmcu had a son who, in revenge for
an assault, was shot by the hifclings 81 the
assaulted man-was murdered in cold
blood and his body consigned to o wuicry
grave. That is The case at bgr, with the
exception that the murdered man WIS
colored man, but, for all that, entitled to
the fall and equal protection OF the law
The eloquent advocate then reviewed
the testimony in the case, bringing into
strong relief the salient points that pointed
10 the prisoners guilt. One OF the iOrrilic
points made 10y council was that COllmau
had said 10 Eastman when hp was hrorgh,
before him; 81 oughttociycyoua,housind
lashcs. n | turn YOU loose ! am afraid
you will do me mischief" "What docs
u,m mean; what DOES that portend, cXcCp;
that the murdered man WIS 90 be- pat ont
OF The way IN orlcr 10 insuro The security
OF COilman. The proof carries YOU 10 the
point that Codman bad difficulty with
Eastman. and was the only man who had
agrudgc against him. The proof shows
that the man who offended him WIS
brought bound with his hands behind him
N Cuilman's Office. and that WAS the last
seen OF him, AMI independent oi 1hom's
testimony the proof shows that the pris-
oncr either committed The crime changed.
or had IL done.
"li the man hal been killed The day
ColInan was assaulted, sudden passion
might account Tor Walker AMI Mrbbpr
killing him, stimulated ~ they Wrrr. as
Con. Wright argues. by race l. 'liicr
But tllcre Was no such state atcis
They had abundant time 10 rc0,s from
any sudden attack ~ passion that EYi-
mans assault might have aroused. There
was but one man who, writing With pain
and thin ing lgr revenge, had motive 10
slay Eastman
Counsel then read authorities in support
Of the position tha. cifcumsianlinl evidence
10 entitled 10 great weight and need not
necessarily amount tO the certainty 81
mathematical demonstration. Counsel
admitted, as n suspicious circumstance. 90
tho fact that Goldman, when approached
by Deputy sheriff Fleetwood who WIS
looking for Wcbbcr and Walker. had
endcayorad 20 avert suspicion from him
self by saying "Ihey are doubtlcs, afraid
Of bcing accused II the murder 0i Fast
man. had nothing To do with H. They
brought him before mo and rai1. you
ought 10 have thousand lashc,, bu.
turned him loose"
Counsel quoted from the sunc testimony
10 show that Conman told Fleetwood hp
had ordered Walker 10 bring Eastman be-.
fore him -"orlorcd, gentlemen. DOgs not
this show influence 81 Goldman over Walk
or. and indicate that Walker was undcr
Conman's control Besides. why should
CofIman soek 10 avert suspicion rom him.
eclf, u hvwcre innocrntoi the cfimc2 How
did hc know, what rsasDn did hc have 20
believe ,hat Walker and Neblcr wCrt
under suspicion Of having done away with
Fas,mang Fleetwood hadn't mentioned
them; Goldman volunteered the ini0rml'
ton himself
Counsel also lNclt upon The iicl that
the def ndani hal assured Squire Hughes
that Green Anderson and Mason knew
nothing oi the decd. allow did he know
that, uncss h. was there himself and sav
II all, the afch.conTirlior and c1cculioncI
Of this hpllish dccdl
"Why were Walker and WcblHr, his co
conspimiora. aleCnt3 Who furnished the
means OF their oscapc7 They were pOUl
day laborcm Whence came the none,
that enabled them 10 grt away Walker
was the man whom Cofiman had ordcrc,
10 bring Eastman before him, and In hos
company be- disappeared"
In response 10 the suggestion by ihI
defendants counsel, that Collman. remain
ing IN Brunswick when the Others fled
1921 q. n.-.... ~. Lnnnn.nn. ....--